- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
I got the new game "Fable" as soon as it came out, and I have to say.... I'm pretty disappointed. It took so long to make, and while its positive attributes are there, its nothing more than another RPG. To me, Morrowind is still the best RPG. Since I've nothing better to do, here's a summary (no spoilers) of Fable VS Morrowind:
Graphics: The graphics of Fable are amazing. Everything from the leaves to the water to backgrounds is just beautiful. There's very little problems with this area. Even the shading and lighting is accurate to the very last peice of waving hair. Morrowind's grahpics are less than good. While they're enough to make the game look good, they have nothing on Fable.
Characters: Design is not a problem in Fable as far as animation goes, but its EXTREMELY limited compared to Morrwind. Gender as well as race gives Morrwind the grade here. However, in Fable all the ways you can customize your character are not as limited as Morrwind. Hairstyles, mustaches, beards, and even tatoos for various parts of your body make customizing fun.
Sounds: Both games in question weild crystal clear sound as well as greatly compsed music. It just seems Morrwind's battle music had more of a variety as well as, at times, more intensity. Fable's battle music is generally quite unless you're fighting a boss. Fable does retaliate, though, with just its general music. Exploring the land is accompanied by scores that reflect the beauty of the land. And while in towns, the music seems to set the mood of busy lives.
RPG goodness: Both games are, to a degree, realistic in the sense of leveling up. To increase a certain skill you must use the weapon and/or preform the action related to the skill you're trying to increase.
Perks: Fable takes the cake on this one. The game is loaded with all kinds of various little extras that Morrwnd just can't meet. Like eatinf fatty foods will make your character hefty over time. Increasing your strength adds muscles onto your character. Good and bad actions represent your looks. You even start the games as a child and grow into a man. But you don't get to spend alot of time at the ages inbetween. So, this means your character ages. Which I didn't really like, because your character seems to age TOO quickly. By the time I beat it, I was already 58.
Fighting: Fable scores again on this one. Every hit counts compared to all the wasted time and attacks in Morrowind. Also, the use of magic is well done in both timing and animation. Also the various combos and guard breakers you can unleash add a kind of finesse to the game.
Weapons: This one belongs to Morrwind. While both offer many weapons, both have a limited number of types of weapons. Fable has axes, swords, maces, greatswords and greataxes but only a small number of types of these. Example, there's steel, iron, and son on. Only about 4 or 5 types I think. Morrowind has shortswords, longblades, axes, bluntweapons, and spears. All one handed as well as two-handed. Excpet spears, thats two-handed. Ranged weapons in Fable are limited only to longbows and crossbows of various mataerials, while Morrwinds ranged weapons (Marksman Skill) consitsts of longbows, crowsbows, thowing stars and knives and darts.
Gameplay: Here's the main reason I chose Morrwind over Fable. While Fable has many good points over Morrwind, the path is set. The story is the same in Morrwind, its also set, but you can go anywhere. And I mean ANYWHERE. Top of houses, climb cliffs, swim into the lakes streams and oceans. Tread through mury swamp waters, raid crypts, go where people just don't go. In Fable, you're limited to paths. You can only tread in shallow water, you can't go down steep slopes, and even worse... you can't even jump. Unless of course you're doing a special move. But that's about it. All that time for development and your exploration is set to already paved roads. Also, the extra quests are very limited.
The verdict: Fable is undeniably a great game. However, for all the good things said, and all the time for development, it falls well beyond short of one of the greatest RPG's ever.
Thanks for reading.